"Nothing Exceeds Like Superfluous Jejunity "

Tag Archives: 1970’s

The 1970’s was a rough time for the automobile business in the United States and Canada-

— it represented a fundamental and permanent shake-up not only in what kinds of domestic cars consumers were willing to buy, but also in the penetration of the market by imports, particularly of Japanese origin.

The big domestic car makers
had been reticent to commit the necessary resources to improve build quality and
fuel efficiency – and North American buyers started to look elsewhere – and they
haven’t looked back since,
it seems.

While in 1975, almost 90% of
the cars on the road were
American (or Canadian) made,
the sad and hard reality of
today’s situation is much different:

“There are no purely American
vehicles,” said Michelle Krebs,
senior analyst at AutoTrader.

“These are global automakers
who use global sources for
all types of parts.”

Which, perhaps, goes a long way to explain why the new cars appear so similar to each other.

Several of my favorite vintage
models were built in the 1970’s, and the whole question of ‘style’ as it relates to current automobile models seems somehow no longer germane.

That notwithstanding,
one can’t help but wonder
whether such dependency
on foreign products,
especially one as iconic and
essential to the American
lifestyle, is a good thing
or not –

– and about how
long policies about such
things should be left in the hands of multi-national corporations that care, not about North American security,
economies, or jobs,
but only about profit.

Just remember
the infamous
Citroen 2CV – a top speed
of 60 and a rollover
just waiting to happen —

France was also the home
of the K-V Mini 1 – the
car that made it seem
possible for anybody to
build one in the garage
out of scrap metal and
motor parts.

— and don’t forget
Renault’s answer
to the Chevette —
“Le Car”.

ACK.

But, I have to tell you,
the 504 is different.

Rough and ready, used 504’s
are still popular in all those
places where car comfort
is important, but road
quality ain’t a priority……

Which is one of the reasons
over 3 million were built and
sold between 1968 and 1983.

I like the ’75 504 Cabriolet –
the first year with the new
163 c.i. V-6 making about
120 horsepower —
– sure, not powerful enough
to show off your speed
on the Autobahn, but perfect for
most of the roads in Europe
of that era…. and the body
design on the Cabriolet
was top notch and
beautiful.

There was also a 2304 cc
diesel offered that year,
which was less powerful
(70 HP) but absolutely
bulletproof.

As proof of how
great a car
the 504 was-
I only need
to offer these
examples of
the road rally
championships
the car won in
the mid 1970’s–

The East Africa Rally
in 1975 and 78
The Morocco Rally
in 1975 and 76-
The Ivory Coast Rally
in 1978 –

These races were over
some of the worst roads
and roughest terrain in
the world.

So, next time you see a
vintage 504 pass you on
some dusty back road —
remember to shout: